The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), will schedule commercial crab sampling. ODA will post forecasted sampling information and biotoxin test results on this page.

CLOSED har​vest zones

No crab harvest zones are currently under a closure due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

EVISCERATE harvest zones

​No harvest zones are currently under an evisceration order for elevated levels of domoic acid.

MOST RECENT EVISCERATION ORDER(S)

Zone 50-L was under an evisceration order effective 12:01 am February 13 through 11:59 pm February 26, 2018, due to elevated levels of domoic acid in the crab viscera. Crab meat results from zone 50-L were below the limit.

Zone 50-K was under an evisceration order effective 12:01 am February 16 through 11:59 pm February 26, 2018, as a buffer to zone 50-L.

Recall: Whole or live crab landed from zone 50-L are under a recall if harvested between 12:01 am February 13, 2018 and 11:59 pm February 16, 2018. Recalled crab must be either eviscerated (gutted) or destroyed.

Instructions: If you have crab from these zones and timeframes you must verify and record all crab received for area/zone where it was harvested and date of harvest; segregate and label affected crab; eviscerate (gut) crab prior to or after cooking; destroy or denature viscera (guts) of affected crab; the viscera cannot be used, sold or given away for human or animal consumption or for use as bait.

OPEN harvest zones

Crab harvest zones 50-A through 50-L are open for commercial harvesting (Columbia River to the California border).

Forecasted commercial crab biotoxin sampling​

Crab may be sampled for domoic acid when any of the following occur: crab have already tested with elevated levels of domoic acid, razor clams in the area have tested above the limit for domoic acid, phytoplankton net tows have shown the algae that produces domoic acid is present offshore, particulate domoic acid has been measured in the marine water, and/or northern California or southern Washington has any of the above. Crab sampling in these zones may occur at 2 to 4 week intervals.

The next round of domoic acid testing in crab viscera is scheduled for the week June 2 - 9th.

Domoic acid results may take 5 days or longer from the actual date of landing.

It takes two sets of crab tests at least one week apart with all the results below the viscera limit of 30 ppm to re-open for harvesting after a closure or evisceration order is put in place.

Table key

Open:There are no biotoxin restrictions on the commercial harvest of crab from this zone.​

Closed: The harvest zone is closed for all crab commercial harvest due to biotoxin results above the Federal limit.

Eviscerate (EVIS): All commercially harvested crab from this zone must be eviscerated due to elevated biotoxin levels in the crab viscera from this zone or the adjacent zone. Evisceration means the removal and discarding of the entire intestinal tract, hepatopancreas, and all associated abdominal organs.

Recall (REC): Commercially harvested whole crab from this zone must be recalled if harvested on this date due to elevated biotoxin levels. All recalled crab must be segregated and labeled, eviscerated by a licensed processor with an approved HACCP plan for crab, or must be destroyed and denatured. Viscera removed from these crab must be destroyed and cannot be used, sold or given away for human or animal consumption, or for bait. Buffer zones that are under an evisceration or closure order will not require a crab recall as long as all the viscera samples from that zone come back with all results below the limit.

Sampling (SAMP): This zone is currently being sampled and lab results may take five (5) days or longer. This zone remains in the status it held prior to sampling status, however it could change beginning on the day the sample was landed based on lab results. Removing any harvest restriction (for example: to re-open) requires two sets of samples taken at least one week apart that all test below the limit. Crab sampling is dependent on weather and ocean conditions and can be delayed. This table is the most accurate source of information regarding when crab sampling actually occurs and will be updated daily to reflect any changes in sampling dates.

Harvest zones​

​​​Harvest zones​​​

​Zone identifier​​

​OR/WA border to Cape Falcon

​50-A

​Cape Falcon to Cape Lookout

​50-B

​Cape Lookout to Cascade Head

​50-C

​Cascade Head to Cape Foulweather

​50-D

​Cape Foulweather to Yachats

​50-E

​Yachats to Heceta Head

​50-F

​Heceta Head to Tahkenitch Creek

​50-G

​Tahkenitch Creek to North Bend

​50-H

​North Bend to Bandon

50-I

​Bandon to Cape Blanco

​50-J

​Cape Blanco to Gold Beach

​50-K

​Gold Beach to OR/CA border

​50-L

New commercial crab rule

ODA has adopted the new crab rule OAR 603-025-0410​ to describe the process for monitoring for domoic acid in Dungeness crab and recommend harvest restrictions.​​​​​​​​​